4.07.2017

Sibu Sea Berry Seed Oil Review

If you have been following me on Instagram, you have seen me post various facial oils in my skin care routine pictures. That is because I have been a bit obsessed lately with facial oils. Contrary to what you have been taught to think, oils are excellent for the skin, even on acneic skin. Counterintuitive as it may sound, facial oils can be very beneficial. The trick is choosing the right oil for your skin type. There are many oils out there that not only hydrate, they also can brighten, even out skin tone and some can even fade discoloration and fight blemishes. Yes, certain oils can actually help to regulate natural oil production while others are naturally rich in vitamins and omega fatty acids that repair and strengthen the skin.

Today I want to take the opportunity to review the Sibu Sea Berry Seed Oil that I got from Musely.com. I have been using this oil in my skin care routines for almost a month and although this review cannot discuss any long term benefits, I can definitely speak to the short term efficacy of the product.

Image from Sibu website

Company Info:Sibu was created in 2004 after a series of events took founder Bruce McMullin to Calcutta, India. Here he crossed paths with an Ayurvedic specialist in Chinese plants and herbs and this expert mentioned a powerful holy fruit, the Sea Buckthorn berry. High in the Himalayas, around 12,000 feet above sea level grows a tiny but resilient fruit that resists the harsh weather conditions and high altitudes. The sea berry contains over 190 bioactive compounds and is an unsurpassed source of omegas 3, 6, and 9. Sea Buckthorn is also the world’s richest source of omega-7 (palmitic acid), a fatty acid vital to collagen production and healthy skin, hair and nails. All Sibu products are PETA certified and cruelty-free plus they are vegan, made in the USA, GMO free and gluten free.

Although I am not a huge fan, the respected Dr. Mehemet Oz of ‘The Dr. Oz Show’ has been praising sea buckthorn oils and liquid supplements for their profound balancing, soothing and rejuvenating properties. He calls sea buckthorn "the new miracle berry to treat acne" here!The Claims:The Sea Buckthorn oil is said to help combat wrinkles, dryness, loss of skin elasticity, and other symptoms of malnourished or aging skin. This oil is said to be a topical treatment to aid in the relief of skin conditions such as rosacea, eczema, acne, dermatitis and other skin ailments. It also helps skin function properly by supporting numerous skin functions including:Boosting collagen productionProtecting against oxidative damageRestoring youthful resilience and plumpness to aging skin cellsRejuvenating skin cell membranesEnhancing the skin’s ability to retain moistureRepairing sun-damaged skinProtecting against sun damage, toxins and environmental stressSounds too good to be true right?!

I would like to touch upon the statement “therapeutic-grade”. My belief is that therapeutic grade is not only an indication of purity, it also communicates efficacy. In my research I have found that it is not simply based on one factor but a multitude of factors. The term therapeutic grade indicates how the oil is harvested, extracted and distilled (even the temperature of distillation) as those three factors can have a huge impact on the effect of the oil.

Color and Scent:
As you can read above, this product contain only 100% pure sea buckthorn seed oil. The natural oil itself has a very earthy aroma. To me, I think it smells a lot like walnuts. The scent does dissipate so you won't smell like a nut for too long. The oil has a natural orange, amber color.

Packaging:
This products is packaged in a 100ml dark amber glass dropper bottle. Dark glass such as amber or cobalt helps to keep out deteriorating sunlight and keeps the product stable. Although this may look like a tiny 100ml bottle, the oil itself is very concentrated. You only need 2-3 drops at most to cover your face and neck.

Formula, Texture:The oil has a natural orange color but don't worry, the oil does not stain. The oil itself is on the thinner side so it is more watery than thick. The oil is not "oily" or greasy much like a dry oil and absorbs fairly quickly into the skin. Performance:
As I mentioned at the beginning of this review, I have been incorporating this oil into my skin care routine for almost a month and have seen many positive results. First, this oil is hydrating without feeling heavy or greasy, especially on my skin which can get very easily dehydrated. It is the most hydrating oil I have ever used? No, it's not but I use it in combination with a moisturizer. My skin is also on the sensitive side and I have found that my skin has been less sensitive, reactive, itchy, red or irritated since incorporating this oil into my skin care regime. My skin has been overall much more balanced too! I haven't noticed any flaky areas, even using tretinoin, nor have I noticed any areas on my skin that are producing excessive sebum (oil). Plus, since starting to use this oil and going through my normal "cycle", I did not experience any blemishes which I usually get a few that pop up during that time of the month.

Another huge positive effect I have noticed is after applying the oil onto the top of my left hand to take pictures on two separate occasions, the eczema I normally have on my hand was gone. I tested this theory further by applying the oil on a huge patch of eczema I seem to always have on my left leg and after four application, it was greatly reduced. I think this is pretty significant that it treated the area, help to calm and soothe the usually extremely itchy and painful spot without using my topical steroid prescription.

Since I have only been using this oil for a month now, I cannot speak to the anti-aging claims as I would need to use this product for a longer period of time. What effects I have seen is that my skin has been overall brighter, more even toned and some of my deeper pigmented post acne scars are less noticeable. While I do use a ton of well formulated skin care products, I truly believe that this oil has made a huge difference in how my skin looks and feels. I am seriously impressed with all the positive results I have experienced. I would highly recommend this for all skin types, especially those with sensitive or irritated skin or those suffering with acne and/or hyper-pigmentation.Where to purchase:Amazon for $11.99 for 10mlMusely for $17.00 for 10ml (free samples included)